Job Title - Head of Operational Finance
Reports to - Finance Director (direct line)
Location - Regionally based / Operations Centre
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It is expected that the Head of Finance (Operations) will be co-located with 60%+ of time spent in the division. The Head of Finance (Operations) will be expected to manage their own location in accordance with priorities of the Trust, the Group Operations Director, and the Finance Director.
About the Role:
* Responsible to the Finance Director for shaping the financial and commercial performance of Operations in collaboration with Senior Operational stakeholders in a challenging operational environment. The Head of Finance (Operations) is to provide Finance Leadership across the Divisions and work with Corporate Directors to support and influence decision making.
* To work closely with other senior finance colleagues and Finance Business Partners to develop an effective Business Partnering structure. Responsible for the delivery of effective financial management, control and advisory support, including support of policy delivery and development.
* Ensure that both the Finance team in Operations and in Central Finance are preparing, understanding, and reporting the financial performance of the Divisions and other financial and statistical data relating to their area of responsibility.
Key Accountabilities:
* Deliver a commercial business partnering service to operations, working in close conjunction with the Divisional Directors and Group Operations Director, and which incorporates proactive review and analysis of the divisions, facilitates operational decision making and drives improvement in trading performance across the Trust
* As financial lead for Operations, provide forward looking insight and challenge, providing demonstrable value through delivering business and commercial insight
* Work collaboratively with key business partners and stakeholders to develop successful partnering relationships that work in the best interests of the Trust – including working with senior finance colleagues to develop effective partnering that both supports and constructively challenges the operations of the business
* Become a subject matter expert in the trading performance of the Divisions, being able to predict performance based on occupancy and resourcing changes
* Support the financial structure for the changing dynamic of developing operating structure, including the integration of acquired services
* Regular review of KPI's and management information, including internal and external benchmarking, to identify trends, opportunities and emerging issues in order that action can be taken
* Develop and monitor financial performance improvement plans for underperforming services ensuring appropriate commercial support given to AOMs and home managers to deliver those plans
* Provide business partnering services, including financial insights, analysis, challenge and strategic guidance to support decision-making for the corporate Directors, including property.
* Ensure the integrity of finances within the Divisions with effective financial control and leading the financial team in supporting services to deliver sound financial control, in line with policies in both Trust and service users finances.
* Lead on implementing recommendations of the Trust's Internal Audit function
* Support in the development of Trust wide financial and operational policies to deliver sound financial control
* Lead the Finance Business Partners to review and distribute of management accounts in a timely and accurate manner ensuring they are robust and accurately reflect current trading performance in conjunction with the shared service team for management accounting
* Deliver meaningful and insightful commentary which supports the accounts and reflects key business issues
* Monitor operational and support function performance against budgets and forecasts, understanding emerging trends and impacts on the trading performance
* Where appropriate, support the senior finance colleagues in the reporting of the joint venture companies, and wholly owned subsidiaries
* Work closely with the Finance business partner (Central departments) to ensure cyclical reporting and planning is accurate, timely and aligned to Trust formats and standards
* Leadership and oversight of operational financial plans, budgets and forecasts ensuring they are challenging but realistic
* Work closely with the Group Commercial Finance Manager to analyse and support new initiatives and contract negotiations as well as current contract variations
* In conjunction with the Group Operations Director, have oversight and management of the rolling risks, issues and opportunities report, ensuring the development and implementation of mitigations
* Undertake regular performance reviews with Divisional Directors and AOMs, ensuring that plans are in place to deliver financial performance in line with budgeted expectation
* Oversight of Divisional debt, ensuring support provided to credit control team in the resolution of invoicing or cash allocation issues which relate to local authority billing
* Ensure adoption of best-in-class accounting practice across the Divisions, collaborating with peers to agree best practice and drive change. Ensure standardised approach adopted across Divisions.
* Provide objective challenge regarding spending plans and takes a proactive role in looking for opportunities to deliver services more efficiently and with greater effectiveness
* Lead the development and upskilling of operational management in financial and commercial awareness
* Support the business in providing a greater degree of financial accountability by providing local coaching and training to improve financial confidence and competence across the Trust. This includes understanding monthly performance of services, impact of emerging trend, identification of risks and opportunities
* Work in partnership with the internal auditor to improve financial compliance and controls within the homes. Proactively lead on implementing recommendations, ensuring the safeguarding of Trust assets
* Ensure delivery of all annual reporting and audit requirements for operational areas, coordinating with the requirements and timescales of the Head of Group Reporting and Accounts
* Build the capabilities, tools, and skills within the finance team, driving high levels of individual accountability, engagement, empowerment and development. Including responsibility for providing support for all direct reports to be successful in their roles.
* Manages team performance by allocating priorities and workloads to enable direct reports to achieve and exceed individual and team goals and objectives
Direct Reports:
5 located across Operational Centres and Divisions. Total team size 10.
Financial Responsibility:
The post holder, in conjunction with the Group Operations Director steers and supports the trading budget for all care settings, and relevant corporate functions.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
* Recognised Accounting Qualification with minimum 5 years' experience in a large sized company and management position
* Preparation and presentation of management accounts, annual budgets and forecasts
* Knowledge of current accounting and reporting standards
* Strong understanding of Financial Controls
* Computer literate – proficient in Microsoft Office including Excel to an intermediate level (pivots, XLOOKUPs, power queries)
Person Specification:
Qualifications:
* Educated to degree level
* Qualified Accountant (CIMA/ACCA/ACA).
* Has shown evidence of own career and professional development.
* Undergraduate degree in accounting and/or finance.
Knowledge and experience:
* Extensive experience in a management position in large sized complex company
* Experience in reporting and accounting for joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries
* 5 years + post qualified experience
* Evidence of continued professional development
* Evidence of up-to-date knowledge of accounting standards
* Led and developed a strong finance team of 5+ persons, across a multi-site environment
* Senior financial and commercial management of multi-site operations
* Extensive experience of preparing and presenting monthly management accounts, annual budgets and forecasts to senior parties
* Demonstrable experience of and progression within business partnering and providing finance leadership, within operational finance roles
* Adding commercial value to an organisation
* Training and development of team and non-finance colleagues
* Experience of working in a high transactional environment
* Experience of working for a multi-site organisation
* Track record of identifying and implementing financial process improvement
Skills and abilities:
* Knowledge of current accounting and reporting standards Resilient in a changing environment
* High quality standards with an attention to detail
* Able to work independently
* Able to prioritise multiple, often conflicting tasks
* Approachable
* Strong team player respectful of others
* Empathy with Trust objectives
* Strives to continually improve own performance and performance of others around them
* Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, for working with internal and external stakeholders
* Able to communicate clearly with managers and administration assistants
* Ability to lead, motivate and influence decision making
* Computer literate
* Advanced Excel
* Microsoft Office
* Innovative and forward thinking regarding streamlining processes for ultimate efficiency.
* Proven track record of managing change
* Demonstrates calm approach in stressful environments
* Coda
* Coldharbour
Ability to meet job requirements
* Ability to fulfil hybrid working
* Willingness to travel to visit homes, services and sites
* Willing to attend meetings and training in other Trust locations during office hours; Occasional overnight stays where required.
* Car owner with clean driving licence